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Ben X

2007 · Movie · 90 min · ★ 7.0 · 74% critics

Drama

A socially isolated teen on the autism spectrum is relentlessly bullied at school and retreats into an online role-playing game to cope. As the line between real life and the virtual world starts to blur, a connection formed through the game gives him a sense of strength and a risky plan to confront his tormentors.

Based on Niets Was Alles Wat Hij Zei

IMDb

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2 hours to watch.

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Details
Years
2007
Release date
2007-08-26
Language
Dutch
Runtime
90 min
Critic score
74/100
TMDB rating
7.0/10 (331 votes)
About

You’ll likely connect with this if you want an intense, emotional teen drama about bullying, isolation, and online escape that can leave you shaken; Not for you if you avoid distressing cruelty or heavy themes like The Kite Runner.

Pros: emotionally powerful; thoughtful disability portrait; gripping tension | Cons: very hard to watch; uneven tone shifts; divisive late turns

Themes

  • underdog
  • video game
  • virtual reality
  • autism
  • mobbing
  • game
  • asperger's syndrome
  • school life

Awards & recognition

  • European Film Award – People's Choice Award — Best European Film · 2008 · nominated
  • International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2008 · nominated

Cast & crew

Directed by Nic Balthazar